Man gets jail time for killing black bear

Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8:05 p.m.

A man was sentenced to serve 30 days in the Marion County Jail by a judge after he was charged with possession of a black bear and offering food to attract a black bear, according to court records.

JC Calton was given his sentence by Judge Jim McCune on Thursday. Calton pleaded guilty to the charges, even though jury selection had been set for Nov. 13 for a trial.

Documents show the 48-year-old Umatilla man must report to the jail every Friday at 5 p.m. and stay there until his release Sunday at 5 p.m. He will do that, the report noted, for 30 days.

When reporting to the jail, Calton must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If he is deemed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then he will serve the remaining days in the jail consecutively.

Aside from his jail time, Calton has to pay fines, including a $250 fine to the Wildlife Alert Fund. Calton’s driver’s license is suspended until he pays all his fines. He must also surrender his bow, the weapon reportedly used to shoot the bear, to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Calton declined an interview request from the Star-Banner.

According to FWC officials, Calton lured a black bear into his yard with dog food and corn around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 25 and shot it with a bow and arrow. Officials said Calton used his truck to drag the creature to a remote area, where it was later discovered and reported to them.

Days after the incident, Calton, in an interview with the Star-Banner, admitted to shooting the bear, but said he only did so protect his family and property. He said bears constantly come into his yard and destroy things. He denied feeding the bear.

FWC officials said that, from 2009 through 2011, 515 bears died statewide. Of those, 452 were killed by vehicles.

In that same time frame, the total number of bears that had to be euthanized was 92. Thirty-eight of those had been injured by a vehicle.

In Marion County during the same three years, 86 bears were killed, 74 by vehicles. There were 14 bears euthanized, half of those because of vehicle strikes.

<p>A man was sentenced to serve 30 days in the Marion County Jail by a judge after he was charged with possession of a black bear and offering food to attract a black bear, according to court records.</p><p>JC Calton was given his sentence by Judge Jim McCune on Thursday. Calton pleaded guilty to the charges, even though jury selection had been set for Nov. 13 for a trial.</p><p>Documents show the 48-year-old Umatilla man must report to the jail every Friday at 5 p.m. and stay there until his release Sunday at 5 p.m. He will do that, the report noted, for 30 days.</p><p>When reporting to the jail, Calton must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If he is deemed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then he will serve the remaining days in the jail consecutively.</p><p>Aside from his jail time, Calton has to pay fines, including a $250 fine to the Wildlife Alert Fund. Calton's driver's license is suspended until he pays all his fines. He must also surrender his bow, the weapon reportedly used to shoot the bear, to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.</p><p>Calton declined an interview request from the Star-Banner.</p><p>According to FWC officials, Calton lured a black bear into his yard with dog food and corn around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 25 and shot it with a bow and arrow. Officials said Calton used his truck to drag the creature to a remote area, where it was later discovered and reported to them.</p><p>Days after the incident, Calton, in an interview with the Star-Banner, admitted to shooting the bear, but said he only did so protect his family and property. He said bears constantly come into his yard and destroy things. He denied feeding the bear.</p><p>FWC officials said that, from 2009 through 2011, 515 bears died statewide. Of those, 452 were killed by vehicles.</p><p>In that same time frame, the total number of bears that had to be euthanized was 92. Thirty-eight of those had been injured by a vehicle.</p><p>In Marion County during the same three years, 86 bears were killed, 74 by vehicles. There were 14 bears euthanized, half of those because of vehicle strikes.</p>